The Appalachian Regional Coalition on Homelessness is conducting its annual 24-hour count of the homeless population in the eight counties of Northeast Tennessee.

The “point in time” count is mandated annually by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development and is used by HUD to determine both the amount and designated use of federal funding for housing and homeless support services allocated to nonprofit service agencies across the region.

ARCH volunteers began canvassing streets, public parks and campgrounds, known homeless camps, shelters, emergency kitchens and agencies serving the homeless at noon on Thursday and will continue the count through noon today. Volunteers are also manning a telephone hotline at the ARCH office in Johnson City and encouraging individuals who are “couch homeless,” or living temporarily in the homes of relatives and friends, to call 877-754-8387, ext. 105, ext. 108 or ext. 111, to be included.